Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 545-3572; ads call 440-6666
Sittings from House of Assembly are carried live on 90.9 FM the Caribbean superstation or follow live online: www.cbnvirginislands.com

Carrot Bay donkey race a ‘no-go’ after 2 attempts

A complete disappointment was how many people would describe yesterday's August 7, 2015 Cultural Fun Day in Carrot Bay with the premier event, the donkey race, not being run after two attempts. Photo: VINO

CARROT BAY, Tortola, VI – Disappointing was how many people would probably describe yesterday's August 7, 2015 Cultural Fun Day in Carrot Bay with the premier event, the donkey race, not being run after two attempts.

The late start to the event, slated to begin at 2pm, was no surprise to this news site. There were complaints that the sun was too hot to play the traditional sports of Lime and Spoon race, Three Legged race, and Tug-o-War and such like.

However, the first attempt at the donkey races was around 5pm. But save for a few warm up trial runs by donkeys and jockeys there was no race. The trial runs offered much laughter and even screams, however, as every now and then a donkey would start heading to the crowd.

There was also an incident where a donkey and his jockey both fell. How that occurred is still not known.

Meanwhile, there was a solitary female police officer trying her best to control traffic, which was coming from both sides as there was no arrangement in place for the road to be cleared for the donkey race.

The officer was heard complaining that she was the only one assigned and it was impossible for her to be at both ends of the street at the same time.

With attempts being abandoned, the action shifted into the Festival Village with the traditional games and races.

Once these were complete, DJ Push Pop (Craig A. Lake) announced that there will be a second attempt at the donkey races.

He acknowledged that there had been traffic control issues the first time out and that these had now been resolved. "We had one officer trying to control a thousand people," Mr Lake joked.

However, when the action again moved to the road way it was more or less a repeat of the first attempt, with no racing taking place save for a few warm up runs.

Eventually children were being offered rides on the donkeys as it was clear that there was to be no donkey races this year.

When this news site caught up with the Carrot Bay Festival Committee Chairperson, Judy Ann Wade, she acknowledged that there had been no official donkey race but could not at the time say why this was so.

Things took a turn for the worse when those who had ventured outside to witness the donkey races were then asked to pay in order to get back into the venue. Some of them had their children to collect from inside and were told that they could not get in unless they paid.

Festival activities this year have been marred by ridiculously late starts and poor participation in certain main activities.

On the positive side, however, there were hardly any reports of unruly behaviour by patrons compared to previous years.

They KNOW donkeys are not trained to do these things.... they should have a human guide to keep them on track while running... or have a handler infront trailing the donkey with a rope --- SOMETHING ... You just cant take a wild ownway animal and expect it to be automatically trained in a race

Your comment is very distasteful and ungrateful. I tip my hat to any man or woman, no matter their size or where they from who choose to serve as a police officer and do their bit in trying to secure this place. This same officer might be the one who has to come to your or your family's rescue one day (it may not be a marathon rescue). She might have been the one person around whose presence deterred a thief breaking into your car or home. Why don't you offer yourself with your perfect shape to service and stop talking bull.

The commissioner should be a shame of himself, to have one officer on duty at this time . But to think about it, the officer in charge don't even show up to work on a regular much less a function such as this. scweeps waste of time.

Blame the representative Fahie for the failure of the Carrot Bay Festival & donkey race. Shaina would have done better. We will take care of him next elections because he has the Carrot Bay people angry with how he Fahie mash up their Festival.

Create a comment

Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Weather

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.

This online news site is the sole property of and is operated by Advance Marketing and Professional Services dba Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) in the Virgin Islands. The content, which includes all articles, photographs, advertisements, bloggs and graphic images, are copyrighted by Virgin Islands News Online and/or the original copyright holder.

It is therefore illegal to use, reproduce, rewrite, amend or plagiarise any items found on this online news site without the expressed permission of the Board of Directors or Management of VINO. Failure to comply could lead to legal actions.